Fight to Save Polo Field Inspires Greenbelt Effort

By LINDA SASLOW

Published: February 28, 1988

A ONE-MAN fight to save an Old Brookville polo field has inspired a neighborhood campaign to preserve open space in the village.

Al Bianco, an Old Brookville resident who is an avid polo player and president of the Meadowbrook Polo Club, has developed a plan to donate 25 acres of undeveloped land, part of the former Glenview Farms, to the Polo Training Foundation for equestrian uses, and to remove development rights on this property to keep the land permanently open and green.

After two years of planning and negotiating, Mr. Bianco will officially submit his greenbelt proposal to the Village Planning Board of Old Brookville on March 15.

''Polo players and enthusiasts share a common goal with many North Shore residents,'' he said. ''Both groups desire to keep as much green space available as is economically feasible.''

Mr. Bianco's interest in Glenview Farms, a former horse farm on 98 acres of Old Brookville land (on the north side of Route 25A, across from the C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University), has been motivated by his passion for polo and his interest in perpetuating the sport on Long Island. According to Mr. Bianco, members of the Meadowbrook Polo Club have used the Old Brookville land for its practice field for the last four years (in addition to a field in Old Westbury for the last 20 years).

In 1985, the 98 Old Brookville acres were purchased from the H.F.I. Houston Corporation for $6.5 million by Howard Silverstein, a private developer, to build 44 single-family homes. Mr. Bianco, along with several investors (Old Brookville Associates), bought 45 acres of the land from Mr. Silverstein for $3.5 million to develop the concept of a 25-acre greenbelt.

In August 1985, a group of Old Brookville residents, concerned about overdevelopment, formed the Committee for the Protection of Old Brookville Property Owners and submitted a petition containing 400 signatures to the Village Board. The petition requested a moratorium on any further development in the village until a comprehensive study was conducted to determine the impact of future development on the environment, ecology, water and sewer systems, traffic and safety in the village, and until a master plan was developed.

The moratorium was granted, and all subdivision activity was halted in Old Brookville for two years.

''We knew there was no way to prevent all of the land from being developed, but we've tried to save as much as we can,'' said Peter Chipouras, president of the committee, which has about 400 members.

Mr. Bianco's proposal advocates cluster housing on the 45 acres that are zoned for three-acre lots. This would place nine single-family homes on two-acre plots, to set aside a 25-acre space for polo and other equestrian uses.

''We will be voluntarily upzoning, by putting only nine homes on 45 acres, so as to preserve the open space,'' Mr. Bianco said.

According to Peter Mineo, a lawyer who specializes in zoning cases, this is a planning device recognized by law for the specific purpose of creating open space.

On the property there are now several barns and the Underhill house, a large farmhouse dating to the 1700's, according to Mr. Bianco. He hopes to preserve the house for possible use as an equestrian clubhouse, he said.

Recent negotiations have also included a land trade of 28 1/2 acres on Whitney Lane in Old Westbury, which are currently owned by the Polo Training Foundation and leased for practice fields by the Meadowbrook Polo Club, for the 25 acres of undeveloped land in Old Brookville. The Polo Training Foundation would then own the 25-acre Old Brookville greenbelt, and Old Brookville Associates would own the land in Old Westbury.

Mr. Bianco said that Old Brookville Associates hopes to buy additional property surrounding the Old Westbury land and to follow the Old Brookville plan by building homes on two-acre plots and reserving the 28 1/2 acres for another greenbelt, which will be donated to the C. W. Post Campus for equestrian uses.

''Polo is a resurging sport on Long Island,'' Mr. Bianco said. ''High-society polo is long gone. Today more and more businessmen are taking up the sport and are filling the ranks that were once held by the old wealth on the North Shore.''

Polo first arrived on Long Island 100 years ago. The Meadowbrook Polo Club, America's oldest polo organization, was founded in 1881, primarily to hunt foxes in the proper seasons. The club also promoted other outdoor sports, one of which was polo, which was first played by the club members on the infield of the old trotting track at the Mineola Fairgrounds (now part of Roosevelt Field).

The sport that began as a friendly game among club members developed into organized polo matches in 1884, when the first field and clubhouse were build. Until World War II, polo matches included many international celebrities and drew crowds in the thousands. But then Meadowbrook lost its best players to the war, according to Mr. Bianco, and as fields were sold, the sport's popularity declined.

''In the last decade, polo has enjoyed a renaissance in America,'' Mr. Bianco said. ''There are over 170 American polo clubs, and the United States Polo Association lists 2,000 members. I am trying to do my part to keep the heritage of polo on Long Island.''

There are currently eight teams in the Meadowbrook Polo Club. The polo season runs from mid-May to the end of September. Practice games are held three times each week: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 6:30 P.M. and Sunday mornings from 10 to 11:30. At all other times the field is available for other equestrian uses.

The property is maintained year-round by the Meadowbrook Polo Club. Polo games are played Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Bethpage State Park.

The greenbelt proposal has met with enthusiastic support among neighbors.

''Most of us bought our homes here so that we could be 25 miles from New York City and yet live in the country,'' Mr. Chipouras said. ''We are concerned about overdevelopment and its side effects. Our goal is to slow down development and to preserve as much open green space as possible.''

''I have no objection to Mr. Bianco having this open space,'' said Mr. Silverstein, whose remaining 53 acres are adjacent to the land belonging to Old Brookville Associates. ''As a general principle, I'm in favor of cluster building and open space.''

Mr. Silverstein's revised plans are for 22 or 23 houses to be built on two- and three-acre plots. The greenbelt would not affect the value of these homes either way, he said.

Leslie Pecheur, Village Clerk of Old Brookville, said the village wants to retain as much open space as possible. Greenbelts are usually scenic areas, maintained by property owners for the benefit and enjoyment of all, she said.

The village has no objection to a polo field, as long as it meets all legal requirements and adheres to current zoning ordinances. Once a formal application is submitted, the Village Planning Board will render its decision, Ms. Pecheur said.

''We love the idea of a polo field in our backyard,'' Mr. Chipouras said. ''Al has even tried to teach me to play polo. The only problem is, I'm allergic to horses.''

Photo of the Underhill house, built in the 1700's, members of the Meadowbrook Polo Club during practice at the Old Brookville field. (Patricia H. Curran-Miller)